#early fern

The second Bandcamp Friday was even more insane and overwhelming than expected and this list confirms it. Most of my picks here are Bandcamp releases that dropped on May 1st and aren’t available anywhere else yet (denoted with asterisk). Hence why this post is several days late as well. There’s so much good stuff in here. Dig in and spend + support freely!

ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ - High School Blues (Motion Ward) *

- Motion Ward has been on a tear lately and it continues with High School Blues, the debut tape of abstract electronic/ambient from 17 y/o Nikolay Kozlov aka ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ. 

https://motionward.bandcamp.com/album/high-school-blues

Ben Bondy - myco (Self-Released) *

- Fresh on the heels of his great split with Exael, Bondy drops seven more slices of chilled ambient dub.

https://benbondy.bandcamp.com/album/myco

Elysia Crampton - ORCORARA 2010 (PAN) *

- Mind-bending experimental/electronic release that deserves all your attention.

https://p-a-n.bandcamp.com/album/orcorara-2010

Curved Light - Primrose Path (Self-Released) *

- Been over a year since the last Curved Light releases and the wait was worth it. Primrose Path is a beautiful, expansive ambient trip.

https://curvedlight.bandcamp.com/album/primrose-path

CV & JAB - Landscape Architecture (editions basilic) *

- The sophomore album from CV & JAB (Christina Vantzou and John Also Bennett). Fascinating and free flowing experimental ambient.

https://johnalsobennett.bandcamp.com/album/landscape-architecture

Sarah Davachi - Five Cadences (Self-Released) *

- Davachi’s second Bandcamp-only quarantine release and if you are a fan of ambient drone, both of them are worth your support.

https://sarahdavachi.bandcamp.com/album/five-cadences

Federico Durand - Alba (12k) *

- Simple, calming & playful is how I would describe Durand’s new album of minimal ambient. Like slowly waking up on a beautiful morning.

https://12kmusic.bandcamp.com/album/alba

Early Fern - Music for Baths (small méasures / Métron) *

- Gorgeous new release from brand new Métron Records sub-label, small méasures “which aims to donate funds to organisations and causes of the artists choosing.” Ambient bathing music.

https://metronrecords.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-baths-vol-i

Empty Country - Andi (Get Better) *

- Two new songs and stripped down demos from the best rock album of the year.

https://emptycountry.bandcamp.com/album/andi

It Looks Sad - Samsara (Self-Released) *

- Another fresh It Looks Sad EP full of hazy new sounds from the quarantine era.

https://itlookssad.bandcamp.com/album/samsara

Matt Jencik - Mind Out of Joint (Self-Released) *

- These two songs are culled from the same recording period as Jencik’s recent (and amazing) album, Dream Character, which came out in December 2019 on Hands in the Dark. Jencik creates beautifully structured and slow building ambient. These two songs are accompanied by a short film which you can view here.

https://mattjencik.bandcamp.com/album/mind-out-of-joint

Mogwai - ZeroZeroZero (Self-Released) *

- Mogwai release their new soundtrack, ZeroZeroZero, for one week exclusively as pay what you can on Bandcamp with half of proceeds going to charities. Haven’t delved into this one much yet but it’s massive and surely worth your time.

https://mogwai.bandcamp.com/album/zerozerozero

Brett Naucke & Ryley Walker -  I am Aware We Do Not Save One Another Very Often (Self-Released) *

- Here’s perhaps the most unexpected beauty from Bandcamp day. Brett Naucke provides electronics with Ryley Walker on guitar and it’s just magical.

https://brettnaucke.bandcamp.com/album/i-am-aware-we-do-not-save-one-another-very-often

Niagara -  Pais & Filhos (Príncipe)

- From the great Portugese label, Príncipe, Niagara follow up one of my favorite albums from 2018, Apologia, with something very different here. Pais & Filhos is quite a shift in direction but count me intrigued to hear more.

https://principediscos.bandcamp.com/album/pais-filhos

Ruven Nunez - Ankh & Sanctuary (Self-Released) *

- Fresh off his Longform Editions release, Nunez quietly unveils two new albums of his spiritual solo guitar playing.

https://ruvennunez.bandcamp.com/album/ankh

https://ruvennunez.bandcamp.com/album/sanctuary

Page - 2b (cminus) *

- Intoxicating downtempo ambient to get buried under.

https://cminus.bandcamp.com/album/2b

Peaer - For The Time Being (Self-Released) *

- A new release from the greatest soft math rock band...”Re-recorded and rearranged versions of previously released and unreleased songs from 2016-2019.”

https://peaer.bandcamp.com/album/for-the-time-being

Perila & Ulla - transparent waters of deep blue (Self-Released) *

- Maybe the best surprise of Bandcamp day. Two more ambient moods from this incredible pairing.

https://perilazone.bandcamp.com/album/transparent-waters-of-deep-blue

Six Six - Six Six (Atlantic Rhythm)

- Another gem from Atlantic Rhythms. Two tracks clocking in at 42 minutes. “Before” is the calm and “After” is the storm. A captivating debut from Six Six which is the duo of Anthony Pirog (The Messthetics) and Luke Stewart (Irreversible Entanglements, Blacks' Myths).